Sending your horse to a "professional"

Rowreach

Rowreach

Adjusting my sails
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I was working with a couple of my schooling liveries today, and it struck me that the majority of horses I get in for schooling and re-backing have already been away to "professionals" who have not done their jobs properly, leaving the owners either with horses who are no better than when they went away, or worse, are worse in some way than they were before
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A lot of my owners know their own limitations and think they are doing the right thing sending their horses away - but what makes people think they are good enough to take these horses in and charge money for doing so?
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Yes, I class myself as a professional, based on many years of experience, qualifications, empathy (with the horses more than the owners
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) and above all a feel for what I am doing with each individual horse. I am also completely honest and upfront with owners, I do what I say I am going to do, or explain when I can't. I don't overcharge either, and I only have a couple in at a time so that I can give them the attention they need. I'm slightly bemused at the number of other people's c**k-ups that I get to sort out.

So how do you choose which "professional" to send your horse to please?
 
Like you I have seen so many horses in a mess having been sent away that I wouldnt consider it myself. If I need help then I would rather pay them to come to me and keep my horse at home. That way each session is supervised and if I see something Im not happy with its much easier to conclude the relationship.

I would want to spend quite some time watching a 'pro' work horses before I made a decision and have learned that 'word of mouth' can be a double edged sword!

Im fortunate that over many years I have come across maybe a handful of people in various areas of expertise that I can truly say I trust with my horses welfare. I know I am very lucky but much of this is born out of research and not from the opinions of friends and aquaintances.
 
I don't know, I'm trying to find someone to take my horse for a weeks schooling when I go on holiday. My instructor doesn't really have enough room I don't think, only has 2 stables for her horses and limited grazing, but I don't know anyone else I woudl trust him with. i don't want him coming back with issues he didn't go away with!

He is a straightforward honest horse, and the only reason I want to send him away is so he can have some intensive schooling. i don't have a school and feel we just need a boost to improve our flatwork.

The only other lady I know who I would send him to does NH, style of teaching. My friend says that if I send him there all she'll do is pat him probably, but I'd honestly pay for that, don't want anyone being mean to him. The NH instructor has taken her daughters pony from being unrideable to going to pony eventing, so she can't just pat them!
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i have only ever sent one to a professional and it was through word of mouth. my friend had been on her yard for a year and i trust her word completely. turned out to be the best thing i ever did as the horses mind is much more settled, and i am much more relaxed with her. i would send a horse to someone with experience over qualifications everytime and i would use word of mouth.
 
Personal recommendation and seeing some of the horses the "professional" had produced and talking to their owners.

Then going for a look see, asking lots of questions, the "professional" taking time to show me around see me ride ask me what I wanted from my horse ultimately then a long discussion of how "we" (notice the vital we) we going to achieve it.

Also having a drop in anytime policy, an open invitation to see her working my horse and the insistance on at least one session a week where the owner had to attend to see the horse being worked to gauge progress and ask questions.
 
Interesting post. Going off on a bit of a tangent, a friend of mine has had quite a few horses in for reschooling, and, like you, would only take a few at a time to allow her to give them the time and work they need. I was always surprised by how many owners wanted to send their horses away to be "fixed" but couldn't see how many of the problems they may have caused themselves. So many horses who were working really well reverted to their bad behaviour not long after they went back home as their owners just weren't competent enough to deal with them.
 
I know exactly where you are coming from, I know quite a few horses that were sent off to "professionals" for schooling and came back 10 times worse .

I know of one "professional" that I would send my horse to and thats it . This person I have known for years, I have seen him ride on many occasions, been to his yard numerous times and watched him work with the horses . I asked as many questions as I could .

What also gets my goat, is the number of people who send their horse off to these yards and leave them there for the "professional" to work on . I think at times the owner has to take some responsibilty for the horse ie .... they should "actually" visit said horse and take the time to find out how its getting on, instead of " leaving them to it " and then getting said horse back in several weeks, thinking ... ohhh thats the job done, horse has been schooled by professional, all I need to do is get on as the work "has been done "
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Sorry I know 2 people I would send my horse to
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..... one would be a certain owner of a little grey pony
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... *arse licking*
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Col x
 
Mine's at one now, I know the guy and I've had lessons with him, he knows the horse and his record speaks for itself as does the calibre of horses he is now competing.
 
We liveried on a yard that took horses in for schooling some were left in field with minimal work done.Others the kids on yard used to ride.I could have gotten my neice to do that.
Did put me off even thinking about putting away for professional schooling.Would rather pay someone to come to yard if ever go down that route
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think at times the owner has to take some responsibilty for the horse ie .... they should "actually" visit said horse and take the time to find out how its getting on, instead of " leaving them to it " and then getting said horse back in several weeks, thinking ... ohhh thats the job done, horse has been schooled by professional, all I need to do is get on as the work "has been done "
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See, I would almost fall into that category, although I don't think my horse will be 'finished' after only one week away! I just want to send him away so that he gets a better education than I can give (with time/facilities constraints) and hopefully give us push (and inspiration) with our flatwork so I can continue having lessons after and get more from them.

I have had many breaks in riding him, worked abroad for 18 months, and my current job means that I have to stay away alot in the summer. Having had him 6 years, I still don't feel I have got anywhere with our flatwork
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(although I am secretly hoping that he will be finished in a week and I can do lots of fancy moves
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)
 
Yes I agree, I find out what the owner wants (keep forever, prep for sale etc) and then make sure that they are involved and come and ride the horse themselves or watch it being worked - I need to understand the what and the why of the problems (and they are sometimes owner related) and work towards a long-term solution.

There is no point in me being able to ride a horse but the owner not being able to
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i would only send mine to my instructor - she has ridden her before - and rides her from time to time - she would be the only one i would send her too say if was going on holiday. She teaches me weekly so we on the same wavelength and i know she wouldnt do anything with her i wouldnt want her too.
plus she teaches me how she rides (biomechanics trainer) so i should be able to ride the horse the same (well in theory!)
 
I have often sent my horse for some schooling when I go away on holiday. Most of the time it has been to an advanced eventer that I have previously had lessons with or someone through reccomendations. I have never had a problem and my horse has always come back fine tuned and well worth it.
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However I have just done the same. This person was recommended for producing young event horses and her eventing record was good. But not only did I get a poor service, lack of communication, but now my horse is back, I cannot even get her in the remotest outline (that I had no problem with before) and is panicing and running. Now its trying to decide whether she has come back with a physical or pyscological problem!! So more money down the drain and no eventing now in the forseeable future.
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So would I do it again -NO NO NO. Not unless it is with my trainer and even then I'm no longer so sure.
 
Recommendations and watching them train as many horses as possible. It has happened often in the past that a big name attracted me (purely on the basis of being a famous name and of their competition successes) but, when I went to have a look myself, I was far from happy with what I saw. I know what training methods suit my horses so I like to think I am able to make an informed decision.

Having said that, the place where I currently am was chosen purely on the basis of one recommendation (a fab friend of mine, also a dressage rider, whom I trust completely). I came here purely on the basis of the trainer's reputation and what my friend had said. It was a gamble because it was 500 miles from where I was before (!), and I had never met said trainer in real life before, but it worked out fantastically well and I couldn't be happier. We totally share the same ideals and the training is just fabulous.
 
I think that sometimes the professionals work with the horse, get it going well, then the horse goes back to the owner who keeps on doing what they've always done and stuffs it up again.
I like a trainer who insistst that the owner has some sessions with them and their horse before taking the horse home. It sometimes helps to avoid that.
 
I would not send any horse of mine to be worked on unless i was going to be there to supervise, watch and learn and be educated by the person doing the training. As some one pointed out there is no point the trainer being able to ride/do whatever with your horse - you need to be able to do it yourself.

I also think that some trainers use a smoke and mirrors approach - they will tell you whatever you want to hear and then let the stable hand be the one to school your horse with the merest instruction from the "master".
 
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